Sex hormones change visceral pigmentation in Eupemphix nattereri (Anura): effects in testicular melanocytes and hepatic melanomacrophages

Author(s)

Zieri, Rodrigo ^[1] ; Franco-Belussi, Lilian ^[1] ; de Souza Santos, Lia Raquel ^[2] ; Taboga, Sebastiao Roberto ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Classius ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Biol, BR-15054000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Goiano Fed Inst IFGoiano, Goiania, Go - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ANIMAL BIOLOGY; v. 65, n. 1, p. 21-32, 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Melanomacrophages and melanocytes are able to modify pigment intensity on the body surface as a response to temperature change, hibernation, hypoxia, infection, oxidative stress and exogenous use of hormones. This study evaluated the effect of the sex hormones 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone cypionate on the hepatic melanomacrophages and testicular melanocytes of Eupemphix nattereri under hyperestrogenic and hyperandrogenic conditions, eight days after daily hormonal administration as well as after a 15-day recovery period. Animals were injected subcutaneously with 17 beta-estradiol, testosterone cypionate or the carrier medium (as control). Histological analysis was used to examine the effect of the treatments. The results show that sex hormones altered the pigmentation of hepatic melanomacrophages and testicular melanocytes. Both liver melanomacrophages and testicular melanocytes in E. nattereri males displayed increased pigmentation after testosterone treatment, while estradiol decreased liver pigmentation only. This study describes, for the first time, the effects of sex hormones on visceral pigmentation of anura, showing the responsiveness of melanocytes and melanomacrophages to sex hormones. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/13925-7 - Effects of female sex hormone (17-beta-estradiol) on the anuran testicular morphophysiology: Lithobates catesbeianus (Ranidae) and Rhinella schneideri (Bufonidae)
• Grantee: Classius de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 05/02919-5 - Comparative analyses and anatomy of extracutaneous pigmentary system in Leptodactylidae (Anura): structural biology of the melanocytes associated with masculine reproductive system
• Grantee: Classius de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/00946-4 - Internal Pigmentation in Ectotherms: Innate immunity and UV defense
• Grantee: Lilian Franco Belussi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral